Draft-gear-removing means



Mayfzo, 1924.

2 Shun-Shut. 1

M. w. PlAsr-:cKl

DRAFT GER REMOVING MENS Filed July. '7- 1923'` Filed July v. 1923 2 Shana-mmc 2 Patented May 20, 1924.

MICHAEL w.l Hashem, or wEsT nLLIs,fWIsoous1N.

DRAFT-eEA-REMQWNG MEANS- Application rfiled IJuly ,7,

To all whom t may concern.' l e Be it known that I, MCHAEL PIaSEfGign a citizen of the United States, arida' V4resident of West Allis, in the county of Milwauf. lice and State of Wisconsin, ,haveinveited certain new and useful Improvementspijn Draft-Gear-Removing Means, `of which :the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

Y form a part of my specification.

My invention relatestomeanswhereby the draft gears of railroad ca'rs','tha`t`isl tofsay the spring containingfpoclets or yokes contained elements, `may be rremoved'from their position between the Ldrfawlugs lQr members secured between the 4car-sills"'wlie'n occasion requires for inspection and `replacement of worn parts. e -v The invention-has for its objecttheprovision of means whereby the draft geare'may be quickly removed from its" positionfbetween the draw-lugs or nonfniovable -inembers without causing ydamageor linjuryfto the draft gear or any of thecarpartsas'sociated therewith. l The objects and advantages of my inyention will be more readily ae,emprehendede from the detailed description4 of the faccomfpanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a parti lllongitudinal sectional view, with parts broken aways/howing a portion of the car-sills or underffraine and draft gear in side elevation andmy proved removing meansvor puller shown Kin' operative position. y i t n Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-f2 of iFigure 1 looking-in the ydirection ofthe arrows. e

Figure 3 is a detail viewinperspective of one of the yyolizes or members of my improved means employed at the forward end of the draft gear. i i

Figure 4 is a similar view of ayol/{ke or member of my improved means employed at the rear or inner end of thewdraft4 gear, 4as disclosed in Figure l.

`Figure 5 is a sectional lplan view of a draft gear with my improved pulling means as -disclosed in Figure y1. e n t* t Figure 6 is a side elevation, `withtparts broken away, of a draft gearwithavmodified form of `my vimproved pulling or `removing `means. n

Figures 7 and y8 aredetail ,perspective views showing the yoles or member-seml 1923. semi im .656359.

PlQyed th @obstruction `.disc/10S@ in t Figure 65"' cqn't'alned lemyexn'ts,l maybe readily pulled downwa" rom vlce'tvveenthe draw-lugsy or l10n-may nememherssewrdbetween Mld-t0 Uhar; A, in ,.Qrdrjthiat the draft seal* may b e rly inspected ,any "of `the a Its replaced Thewremova'l 'of the draft fgear hash toforebeen accomplished a rather l alte-shift manner, ,dto-wit through.thGHwbynmt 0f planks ,O timbereyvhieh Werelsrted `@ver the @Op Of the draft'gear `w"hilefthe' outer ends ef` theplan'ks 0r ltimbers were forced upwardly by suitable meaIIlS ,s 4for example 'screw-jacks seas `to M v'igiyeiitionhas,for `,its)objectthe pro? WGds@ 'fthe vdraft gear "doanwd from bleyyen lith@ @fanless This' ,practice not Qh'l-y requires i@ "derable "labor and ,time but .elsegnvolyesan .element ,of danser 01 illiulfy ,t the Werkman', `til@finish' breakage @if ,the ifilanks er timbers and 'Otherwise as Well e150` @alleine frequent damage to the draft'gear, j e l,

1..Wth `my" impreyed means 'thegremoyins ofthe' .draftlgea-r Emay "be Molen/lished with :lessiflabor vand .in la comparatively Psiiifll-Qfs "e5 While al1-denser Of IlJ'UrybQtlitqtheW ardt@ thegdrat gear Qarfnelbsts. mated# In particular enempliication nof the nyeiton asfdiele in -the'rl'st ye, :fleuLQS;ayiellxknoyyliype; fd'raft' geel iS i11- idillated', generally at'gl`5, yprovided t with the usual y ,i011 g ,er gplats .16; .mounted Within whatli's. ,@,IHIDQHIY vflHOWIl afslhe yoke! b1"` seCuredjilO he Ear-sills; fthe draftgear being usually Ls'uppf'orted by suitable tie-straps disposed ,ftherebeneath .and bolted thereto g the f tier-straps "having, been l removed in illustratingir1y..nyent0n and in applying my iipreyedimeaes t The 'remoyrig Ineens Q1" Puller in l the @X- elrplflatori cmprises ,a parfof vertically disposedside planksfor timbers 19, 19 which are secured inplace'by means Aofbolts in dicatedvxat 20,*eXtendingrthrough the planks and inserted throujghntheholesor slots in the angS-hy the meeb'rslS .Whieh receive the'lbol'ts wherebykrthe tiefstrayps `or carrier. members fseureiffr-p1ae- Ewell f icc The free bent ends of the two dogs 21,

pivoted to the same side plank, are disposed toward each other and adapted to support a bearing plank 24 disposed transversely and beneath the side planks 19. The puller also includes a yoke member 25, preferably provided with reenforcing ribs as at 26, see Figure 4, land having depending portions or hooks 27 spaced apart and adapted to straddle the spring pocket or yoke member 17 of the draft gear and engage with the forward faceof the follower plate v 16, located at the rear end of the draft gear;

The lower end of the yoke member 25' is bent upwardly to provide a hook portion 28 see Figures 1 and 4, which lis intended to receivey a suitably shaped link member 29, preferably of the rectangular formation shown more clearly in Figure 2,y and which link member is provided with the two chains or supporting elements 30 whose lower ends are secured to suitable eye-bolts 31 disposed through a suitable supporting plank 32 which preferably extends the full length of the draft gear as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

The forward end of the supporting plank or timber 32 is held in place by similar eyebolts 31 adjacent opposite sides thereof, each receiving the lower end of a chain or flexible element 30,- whose upper ends are secured to a single link 29. The link 29 of the chains or element 30, at the forward end of the device, is adapted to hook onto the hook por'-` tion 33 of a yoke member 34 which is preferably of the construction more clearly shown in Figure 3. The horizontally disposed portion of the yoke member 34 is provided with an opening as at 35 adapted to receive the upper end `of the tail-pin 36 of the draft gear and tobe held in place by the nut 37 of thetail-pin. That is to say, the nut 37 is removed fromv the tail-pin land the yoke member 34 putinto place with the tail-pin disposed throughopening 35 after v which the nut 37 is screwed onto the upper end of the tail-pin, thereby firmly clamping yoke member 34 in place at the forward end of the draft gear. i

The various elements of my puller means are nowv properly secured in place to receive the action or thrust of a suitable jack` indicated generally at 38, `which is placed on the supporting plank or timber 32. The

yoke 17 and its contained elements.

length of the chains or elements 30, 3() are preferably such that the normal distance between cross-timber 24 and supporting timber 32 is just suicient to receive the unexpanded jack 33 therebetween with the upper end engaging the transversely disposed plank or timber 24.

it is apparent thawupon actuation of the jack 38 whereby it is forced into distended condition, the force exerted thereby, by reason of the fact that the upper end is in firm engagement with plank or timber 34, (which latter bears against the lower edges ot' planks or timbers 19 and which in turn are in rigid bearing relation with the draw-lugs or side members 18 `of the draft gear) will cause the force to move supporting timber or plank 32 downwardly. Such downward. movement of the plank or timber 32 causes a pulling force to be exerted on the yokes 25 and 34, through the medium of the chains 30, with the result that the spring pocket or yoke of the draft gear with the contained springs and follower-plates will be pulled downwardly from between the draw-lugs or rigid members and cause the spring pocket or yoke 17 with the contained springs to fall onto the transveresly disposed plank 24; while the plank or timber 32 with the jack will drop onto the ground or floor.

The yoke members 25 and 34 are preferably so formed as to extend parallel with the ends of the spring pocket or yoke 17 of the draft gear and for that reason the yoke 25 in the vertical portion thereof, at an intermediate point, is shown apertured at 39 to fit over the end of the rivet 40 in the yoke or spring pocket member 17, as shown in Figure 1 in order that the yoke or hook memb'er'25 may lie flush with the rear end of the spring` pocket.

With the spring pocket or yoke 17 removed frombetween the draw-lugs, it is apparent that the moving elements of the draft gear will be accessible for inspection and replacement of any worn parts.

In railroad practice, the draft gears are required to be carefully inspected whenever the car is sent into the shops and such inspection requires the entire removal of the draft gear, or rather the spring pocket or The operation of removal as heretofore accomplished in a rather make-shift manner, requires considerable time and labor, coupled with the danger incident thereto as well as the injury of the draft gear parts or adjacent under-structure of the car, because of the firm wedging ofthe spring pocket with the follower plates between the draw-lugs or rigidly held members and the pressure eX- erted by the springs. iith my improved device, the removal of the spring pocket or yoke with its contained elements can be accomplished in` a materially less period of lll) time and without danger to the workmen or` and ad-k tion the timbers or planks 19 and 24 are similar in construction and arrangement to that previously shown and described and similarly secured in fplace; the plank or timber 24 being supported in place, transversely of the lower edge of the timber 19, by the pivoted dogs 21, which latter are locked in operative position by mea-ns of the pawls 23. In this construction, however, I employ a heavy metallic plate 4l which is intended to be placed lengthwise on top of the spring pocket or yoke 1.7 after the tail-pin has been removed from the draft gear. The metallic plate 4l at its ends is formed to pass through apertures in the upper ends of a pair of hooks or yoke members 42 and 43 arranged, respectively, at the rear and forward `ends of the draft gear. The hook or yoke member 42, shown in` detail in Figure 8, has an upper forwardly bent end y44 and a rectangular opening 45, adjacent to the upper end, to receive the end of the metallic plate 41.; the hook or yoke member 42, at a suitlabile point, also having an aperture, las at 46, adapted to register with the rivet 40 in the yoke `member or spring pocket 17 so as to permit the hook or yoke member 42 to lie flush `with the rear end of the l spring porke-t 17. The lower end ofthe provided with a rectangular opening as at 48, adjacent to the upper laterally disposed end, to receive the end of the metallic plate 4l; while the lower end is bent `upwardly and outwardly to provide the hook portion 49 adapted to receive the link 29 of the pair of chains 30 whereby the forward'end of the i ack supporting plank or timber 32 (not shown in Figure 6) is secured in place.

In practice, the tie-straps of the draft gear are first removed; the side planks or members i9, 19 are then secured in place by passing the upper ends of the bolts thereof through the openings or slots for the tie-stifap bolts; plank or timber 24 may then be secured in place by proper movement of the dogs and pawls 2l and 23. The small yoke or hook members 25 and 34 may then be secured in place by having the lugs 27, 27 of member 25 engage the forward side of follower-plate I6, while member 34 is secured in place by the tail-pin 36; or with the construction shown in Figure 6, the plate 4l is placed over the yoke 17 and the members 42 and 43 inserted onto the ends of the plate 41'. The jack supporting plank 32, with a suitablejack, is then put into place by slipping the links 29 onto the hookends of members 25 'and 34, or 42 and 43, as .the case may be. The various elements are now in position to operate the vjack so as to kdistend it untilstniicient downward pressure on timlber or plank 32 has kbeen exerted to cause ryoke 17 with the springs and follower plates to drop down.

I have shown and described what `I believe lare the simplest and best embodiments of my `invention and have described the same in terms employed merely as terms of descriptionand not as terms of limitation, as structural modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departinO' from thespirit of my invention.

hat I claim is :-l

l. Means ofthe character described, comprising aplur'ality of thrust receiving members, a'portion of said members being adaptedto besuspended from the immovable portions Of a car draft-gear, while the other portion of said members is adaptedV to be suspended fromthe spring-pocket or yoke member of the draft-gear, and expansible pressure exerting means disposed intermediateof both portions of` said members, wheref by the last mentioned portionr with the4 spring pocket or yoke of the draft-gear'will l be forced downwardly.

2. Means of the character described, comprising a plurality of thrust receiving members, one'portion whereof is'adapted to be immovably suspended fromr the draw-lugs of a draft-gear, while the other portion is adapted to be suspended'from the spring pocket `or yoke of the draft-gear, ander;- pansible power exerting means disposed intermediate of both portions so as to exert pressure on the second mentioned portion and thereby pull the spring-pocket or yoke of the draft gear downwardly.

3. Means of the character described, comprising a plurality of non-flexing members, one portion whereof is adapted to be rigidly secured beneath a car-underframe while the .other portion is adapted to be suspended from the movable parts yof the draft-gear,

ies

llO

and means adapted to be disposed between ably secured beneath the draw-lugs of a cardraft-gear and on opposite sides thereof, a second portion of said members being adapted to be suspended beneath the irst portion and disposed lengthwise of the draft gear, means whereby the second portion may be removably secured to the spring-pocket or yoke of the draft-gear, and an expansible jack disposed between both portions of said members in pressure exerting rela-tion therewith, whereby distention of the jack will force the second portion of members downwardly and thereby pull the spring-pocket or yoke from between the draw-lugs of the draft-gear.

5, Means of the character described, comprising a pair of non-flexing members adapted to be immovably secured beneath the draw-lugs of a car draft-gear, a third non-flexing member adapted to be secured to the lower edges of said first mentioned members, transversely of the draft-gear, a fourth non-flexing' member adapted to be disposed beneath the third member, lengthwise of the movable portion of the draft-gear, means whereby the fourth member may be suspended from the upper surface of the movable portion of the draft-gear, and an eX- pansible jack mounted on the fourth member in bearing relation with the third member, whereby distention of the jack will cause the fourth member with the movable portion of the draft-gear to move downwardly.

6. Means of the character described, comprising a pair of non-flexing vertically disposed members adapted to be immovably secured on opposite sides of the movable portion of a car draft-gear, a third nonfiexing horizontally disposed member adapted to extend in a direction transversely of the draft gear, means whereby said third member is removably secured to said pair of members, a fourth non-flexing member adapted to be disposed in a direction lengthwise of the draft-gear and beneath the third member, means adapted to engage with the upper surface of the spring-pocket or yoke of the draft-gear and at opposite ends thereof, for suspending the fourth member in place, and distensible pressure exerting means arranged on the fourth member in pressing relation with the third member, whereby distention of said means will cause the fourth member through said second mentioned means to pull the spring-pocket or yoke from between the draw-lugs of the draft-gear.

7. ln means of the character described, a

vertically disposed plank secured in bearing relation with the lower edge of each drawlug of a draft-gear, a third plank arranged transversely of the lower edges of the vertically disposed planks, means pivotally secured to the vertically disposed planks for removably holding` the third plank in abutting relation with the vertically disposed planks, a fourth plank disposed lengthwise of the draft-gear, in spaced relation beneath the third plank, yoke members adapted to be secured at the front and rear ends of the spring-pocket or yoke of the draft-gear, means whereby the fourth plank may be suspended from said yoke members, and a distensible jack disposed between the third and fourth planks in bearing relation therewith, whereby distention of the jack causes the fourth plank, through said second mentioned means and the yoke members, to pull the spring-pocket or yoke-from between the draw-lugs of the draft-gear.

MICHAEL W. PIASECKI. lVitnesses:

JOSEPH HOFFMANN, JOSEPH A. AMMAN. 

